mason



. Patented Nov. 22, I898.

w'. MASON. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1398.) 4 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet {No Model.)

WAR 6 m. 6|4,4s2. P'a j htquov. 22, I898} w. MASON. MAGAZINE HBEARM.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 189B.)

3 Sheets- 9mm 2.

(lo Modal.)

No. 6I4,482. Patented 'Nov. 22 I898.

' W. HASH".

MAGAZINE FIREARM.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1888.) (No Model.) 3 Sheeta-8heet 3.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\V lLLIAM MASON, NE\V HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE VINCIIESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MAGAZINE-FIREARM.

SFECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,482, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed April 4, 1898.

To (ill whontfit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MASON, of

New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same,

and which said drawings constitute .part of this specification, and represent, in-

. Figure 1, a broken view, in side elevation, of the muzzle end of a gun containing my invention, the tubular magazine being shown in its normal position; Fig. .3, a corresponding view with the magazine and operatinghandle drawn forward into their retracted or take-down positions; Fi 3, a view in vertical section on the line a I) of Fig.1; Fig. 4, a view of 'the forward end of the magazine and its associated instrumentalities, shown in vertical longitudinal section on the line 0 (Z of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detached plan view of the magazine-supporting sleeve; Fig. 6, a view in side elevation; Fig. '7, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 8, a broken view, in side ele v.--.tion, of the forward end of the magazine; Fig.9, a corresponding view of the opposite side thereof; FigJlO, a View of the magazine in front elevation; Fig. 11, a detached view, in front elevation,'of' the stopplug; Fig.' 12, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 13, a view thereof in side elevation; Fig. 14, a view thereof in vertical section on the line cf of Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a detached view. in rear elevation, of the magazineclip; Fig. 1G, a side view thereof; Fig. 17, a detached plan view ofthe pin-lever; Fig. 18, a view thereof in side elevation; Fig. 10, a view thereof in end elevation; Fig. 19, a detached view, in side elevation, .of the pin-lever spring; Fig. 20, a detached broken view showing the magazine and the sleeve to which the sliding operating-handle is fastened and from which the action-bar extends rearwardly; Fig. 21., a view showing the sleeve in side elevation and theflnagazine in section; Fig. 22, a view in transverse section on the line g h of Fig. 21 and showing the magazine, the operatinghandle sleeve, and the action-bar; Fig. 2 3, a detached view, in side elevation, of the maga- Serial No. 676,352. (No man.)

zine-follower; Fig. 24, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 25, a View thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 26, a broken view, in side elevation, of a gun, showing one of the modified forms which the fastening-clip may assume;

.Fig. 27, a view of the same gun in front elevation; Fig. 28, a broken view, in side elevation, of a portion of the gunbarrel, showing the fastening-clip lug thereof; Fig. 29, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 30, a detached plan view of the fastening-clip; Fig. 31, a view thereof in side elevation; Fig. 32, a view of the clip'in rear elevation.

My invention relates to an improvementin tubular-magazine take-down firearms, the object being to provide simple, durable, and convenient means for securing the sliding, supporting, and operating handle of such a gun at the limit of its forward excursion when the gun is taken down and also for securing, if desired, t etubular magazine of such a gun at the limit of its forward movement with respect to the gun-barrel when the gun is taken down, in addition to securing the handle, as above described, whereby the handles and magazines of such guns are prevented from shrieking back and forth when the guns are taken down.

\Vith these ends in view my in vcntion consists in the combination, in a tubular-magazine take-down firearm, with the gun-frame thereof, of a gun-barrel and a tubular magazine organized together and adapted to be d tached from t e gun-frame, a sliding handle organizedwi-th the said barrel and magazine, and means for holding the handle at the limit of its forward excursion when the barrel and magazine have been detached from the gunframe. v

My invention further consistsin the combination, in a tubular-magazine take-down firearm, with the gun-frame thereof, of a gunbarrel detachably connected with the said frame, a tubular magazine organized with the said barrel so as to be movable longitudinally with respect thereto and adapted at its rear end to be detachablv connected with the gunframc, a sliding handle organized with the said barrel and magazine and movable back and forth in line with the longitudinal axis of the barrel and adapted to be connected with the action mechanism of the gun for the actuation thereof, and means for securing the :magazine at the limit of its for-ward movement with respect to the barrel and for securing the handle at the limit of its forward excursion when the said barrel andmagazine are detached from the gun-frame.

My inventionfurther consists in the combination, in a tubular-magazine take-down firearm, with the gun-frame, gun-barrel, and tubular magazine thereof, ofa rotable magazine-supporting sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine, which is movable back and forth with respectto it and coupled for rotation with it and means for supporting the forward endof thesaid sleeve by the gunbarrel.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, andpointed out in the claims.

In the gun which I' have chosen for the illustration of my invention I have provided not only for securing the handle at the limit of its forward excursion when the gun is taken'down, but also for securing the magazine at the limit of its forward movement with respect to the'gun-barrel when the gun is taken down, though it is not essential that the magazine should be so secured. v

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a magazine fastening or clip A having the general'form and'construction of such clips as heretofore made and provided with a transversely-arranged screw A,

by means of which it is firmly clasped upon 'thegun-barrel (14' This clip is formed at its, lower end with a circular opening A receiv-Q- ing a supporting-stud l3, formed integral with. and projecting forward from the magazine supporting sleeve B, which enters the for ward end of the tubular magazine 0, which slides or telescopes back and forth over the said sleeve, and'is therefore movable back and forth with respect to the gun-barrel with which it is permanently organized. The said sleeve B might, indeed, be called a hollowplug, inasmuch as it does, in fact, plug up or close the forward end of the tubular magazine, which is coupled with the sleeve forrotatio'n therewith, as will be described later on; I The said stud B is formed with-a circumferential groove 13*, receiving a coupling-pin A, mounted in .the clip A, the said pin and groove preventing the stud from endwise ,movement with respect to the clip,but per-- into the locking-groove A of the clip A locks the plug to the clip and prevents its rotation with the magazine-supporting sleeve, which rotates upon the plug. The said plug is formed in its upper portion with two countersunk holes D D while its lower portion is formed with a clearance-slot Di, the end walls of which act as stops.

It will be understood that the rear end of the magazine is formed with interrupted threads or adapted in some other way to be attached to and detached from the gun-frame bya rotary movement. I do not show or give a detailed description of the rear end of the mag azine, however, as Idesi-gn to adopt one of the well-known ways of connecting it with the gun-frame. For the purpose of conveniently rotating the magazine for connecting it with and detaching it from the gun-frame I employ alongitudinally-movable pin-lever E, which is radially mounted in the solid forward end of the magazine-supporting sleeve,

which is formed for thepurpose of receiving it with a transverse pin-hole B intersecting the deep annular groove Bibefore mentioned,

and locatedin the same plane with the'openings D and D of the plug D, as well as the slot D thereof. The said pin-lever E is formed with a longitudinal slot or recess E for the reception of a wire spring E, by means of which the lever is held in its two pro ecteo positions, in one of which its upper end projects in an inclined position above the upper face of the magazineand in the other of which its lower'endprojects in an inclined position belowthe lower face ofthe magazine. One end of the said springis turned to form a stop-finger e, while its other end is bent at a right angle to form a retaining-finger e, which enters the pin, so as to prevent the spring from longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The lower end of the said pin always passes through the clearance-slot D of the plug, while its upper end passes through either one of the twocounterbored openings D D thereof, according to the rotated post .iio

tion'of the magazine, as will be hereinafter described; The said pin-lever has the function of positively locking the magazine 0 in its retracted or take-down position, which is the position which it has when its rear end is disconnected from the gun-frame and it is pushed forward to the limit of its telescoping movement over the 1nagazinc-supporting sleeve.

To adapt the magazineto be locked, as described, itsforward end is'formcd with a pinhole 0 for the reception of the upper end ofv the pin and with anopen slot C for the reception of the lower endj of the pin, I D

For the purpose of coupling the magazine for rotation with the sleeve, which is in turn rotated through the instrumentality of the le v'er-pin as describetL I; provide the forward.

end of the magazine with a longitudinallyarranged inwardly-projecting key F, which enters a corresponding.longitudinally -arranged groove C, formed in the exterior surface of the sleeve.

The tubular magazine C supports the sliding, supporting, and operating handle G, which is movable back and forth in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis of the guns barrel to; The said gun-barrel, magazine, and handle are thus organized together so as to retain their organic relations after the gun has been taken down. The said sliding handle is preferably made of wood, although I do notlimit myself to that material, and secured to a handle-sleeve II, adapted in size to slide freely back and forth upon the tubular magazine (land formed at its rear end with a flange II. The action-bar I is made integral with or rigidly connected to the said hand le-sleeve II and extends rearwardly therefrom for operative connection with the action mechanism (which is not shown) of the gun. The said handle-sleeve is formed with a longitu dinal clearance-slot H extending throughout its length, and provided for the clearance in the ordinary use of-the gun of a handle-stop J, located upon the tubular magazine C. This stop may consist of a small piece of metal secured to the magazine or may be struck outward therefrom. Normally the clearance-slot H of thehandle-sleeve and the handle-stop J arejlocated in line, as shown in Fig. 20, so that the stop does not interfere with the tree unevement of the handle-sleeve back and forth, as the handle itself is reciprocated in operating the gun. However,when the magazine is rotated within the handle G and, its sleeve II for taking the gun down the stop J is carried out of alinement with the clearanceslot II and brought into position to engage with the flange 11, formed at the rear end of the handle-sleeve, whereby when the gun is taken down they handle is held at the limit of its forward excursion, its action-bar being then drawn out of the way and so as not to project beyond the breech ends of its barrel and magazine.

When the gun is assembled, the pin-lever occupies the position in which it is shown by full lines in Fig. 3, with its upper end, projecting out of the pin-hole ll" in the sleeve 13, through the hole D' in the plug l)' The pin is normally held in this position by means of the short outwardly-projecting end eoi' its spring E the saidend of the pin being ongaged with the inclined wall of the hole l) in the plug D". Now preparatory to taking downthe gun the pin is shoved downward into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 3, so that its upper end entirely clears the hole D of the plug l). 'hen the pin is shoved downward, as described, its spring E" is forced inward, its said end 6 ridingth rough theipiu-holc l3 and snapping ontwi-trd into theslot D in the. plug I), when the pin reaches theiimii' of its downwardly-thrust position, in which it is stopped by the engagement of the stop end 0 of the spring li" with a portion of the outer wall of the deep groovell", formed the bottom of the hole I) in the plug.

in the solid forward end of the slcevcli'. After this the projecting lower end of the pin is used as a lever for turning the sleeve and with it the magazine, which is coupled with the sleeve by means of the key F, the magazine and sleeve being rotated until the projecting lower end of the pin is brought to a stop upon the opposite end of the slot Tlol the plug D,-

which, as before described, does not turn with the sleeve on account of being coupled with the magazine fastening or clip A. The turning of the 1nagazine-supporting sleeve and magazine in the manner described disconnects the rear end of the magazine from the frame of the gun, with which it may be connected byseetional threads or anyothcr wellknown manner. Prior to turning the magazine as described the handle is pushedforward to the limit of its forwardexcursion. Then when the magazine is turned within it the stop J upon the magazine moves out of line with the clearanceslot H of the handlesleeve II and is brought into engagement with the flange H at the rear end of the saidsleeve,

'whereby the handle is prevented by the stop from moving rearward, but is held against shucking about and at the limit of its forward excursion. The magazineis now taken hold of and drawn forward, whereby its pinis brought into registration with the upper end of the pin-hole B in the sleeve and the hole I) in the plug. The lower end of the pin-lever is then pushed upward, whereby the upper end of the pin is shot through the hole I)" in the plug and through the hole C in the forward end of the magazine, whereby the magazine is positively secured in its forward or retracted position with respect to the sleeve and prevented from shocking back and forth when the gun is taken down, which is now done by rotating the barrel as may be required for the disconnection of its threads from those of the gun-frai'ne. 'When the pinlcver is pushed upward into its original position, the stop end cof its spring rides back through the pin-hole B in the sleeve B until itis given an opportunity of snapping into the hole D iu the plug, after which the spring holds the pin-lever in its locking position. The barrel, magazine, and handle remain organized together when the gun hasbeen taken down, and as the magazine and handle are both secured against shuckiug about both with respect to the gun-barrel and to each other the said parts are handled virtually as one piece and with obvious convenience. Now when it is desired to assemble the gun again the lever-pin is thrust inward, so as to clear its upper end from the locking-hole-C' in the-forward end of the magazine and f i rim magazine being thus disengaged from the pin is then pushed back into position for being reC-ntcred into the gun-frame. The projecting lower end of the pin-lever 1s then employed to turn the magazine-supporting sleeve and magazine, whereby the magazine may be remarked that the rear edge of the clip is formed with a vertical locking-groove by bringing the stop J into line with the clear- .ance-slot-H in the flange H of the handle- I sleeve H.

2 m 32, inclusive, I employ a bracket-like the gun-barrel.

the magazine K The said stud is formed ceives a couplingpin K which prevents the zine-supporting sleeve to freely rotate. llow- Agaimthe forward end of the magazine might 6 said magazine supporting s'leeveinstead of is reconnected with the gun-frame, this turning movementof the sleeve and maga'zinebeing limited by the engagement of the pin with the opposite end of the slot D in the non-rotatable' plug D. 'The pin-lever is then pushed upward into its normal positio n, as shown in Fig. 3 by full lines. The turning of the maga zinc, as described, releases the sliding handle In the modified construction shown by Figs;

clip J, the'npper edge of which'is formed with a groove J adapted in curvature to receive The upper edge of the clip is also formed with a slot J which receives a fastening-lug J formed independently of the gun-barrel and secured thereto by brazing, or it might be formed integral with the gun-harreh The said lug J is formed with a transverse hole Jiwhich receives a screw J, which also passes through a transverse hole J formed in the upper edge of the clip, which is thus secured permanently to the under face of the gun-barrel. The said clip is also formed with an opening K for the reception of the supporting stud K, which is formed integral with and projects forward from the magazine-Snpporting sleeve K of with a circumferential groove. K, which restud from endwise movement with respect to the clip, but'permit's the stud and the Ina-ga ever, the construction now being described is the same as the construction already described with the exception. of the clip, and details need not be further gone into, though J whereby the plug is held against rotation. This plug is not shown or described, but is like the plug D, before described.

In View of the modification shown and dcscribed and of others which may obviously be made I would. have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described. Thus the pinlever may be employed simply to effect the rotation of the 1nagazinesupport-ing sleeve ,ahd magazine" without calling upon it to perform the additional function of locking the magazine in its forward or retracted position, in which case the magazine will notbe furnished with a slot for clearing the pin and with an opening or hole for receiving the pin.

be a ranged to play back and forth within the over ages shown. If desired, the handle may be made integral withthe sleeve and actionbar. Also,if desired,the flange atthe rear end ofthe sleeve maybe dispensed with, as it is not imperative. Again, I mayeven dispense with the magazine-supporting sleeve and employ some other means for connecting the forward end of the magazine with the gun-barrel, my

invention broadly comprehending means'for;

secu-ring a sliding handle at the forward end? of its excursion when the barrel and magazine are detached from the frame of a take-- down gun and also for securing the magazine of such a gun at the. limit of. its forward movement with respect to the gun: barrel when the barrel and magazine are detached from the gun-frame.

I have before' pointed out that it is much more convenient to handle and paok'fthe parts of a take-down gun "when provision is made for preventing the magazine and handle (either or both) from shucking aboutafter the g'unis taken down. 7 p I I-Iaving ftillydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is v 1.- In a tubular-magazine firearm, the comtubnlar magazinethereof, of a rotatable magazine-supporting sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine, which is movable back and forth withrespect to it, and coupled for rotation with it, and means for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve by the gunbarrel. v I

2. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the com bination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and tubular magazine thereof, of a rotatable niag+ azine-supporting sleeve entering theforward end of the magazine, which is movablelback and forth over it and coupled for rotation with it, and means for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve by the gun-barrel.

3.. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the com- 'bination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and bination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and v tubular magazine thereof, of a rotatable magazine-supporting sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine which is coupled for rotation with it, and which is movable back and forth with respect to it when the rear end of the magazine is detached from the gun-frame, means for supporting the forward end of the sieeve, and instruniental'ities for rotating the said sleeve and hence the magazine.

i. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and Y tubular magazine thereof, of a rotatable magazine-supportin g sleeve ajpplied to the forward end of the magazine which is coupled for rotation withit and which is movable back and .forth, with respect to it when the rear end of the magazine is detached from the gun-frame,

means for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve, and instrum'entalities for rotat- .ing the said sleeve and hence the magaz ne,

and for locking the magazine in its forward or retracted position.

5. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel andtubularmagazine thereofiof a rotatable maga zine-supporting sleeve 4 I end of-the magazine which s coupled-for rotation with it and which is movable back and applied to the forward zine, and for locking the magazine and bandle in their forward or retracted positions. (3. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, the gun-barrel and the tubular magazine thereof, of a magazine-supportin g sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine which is movable back and forth with respect to it, and which is coupled for rotationwith it, means'for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve by the "gunbarrel, and a pin lever radially mounted in the forward end of the sleeve for the rotation thereof, and adapted to be moved longitudinaily.

7. In a tubular-magazinefirearm, the combination with the gun-frame,gun-barrel and tubular magazine thereof, ofa magazine-supporting sleeve applied to the'ferwardend of the magazine which is movable b5 cl:- and forth with respecteto it, and which is coupled for rotation with it, meansfor supporting the forward end of the said sleeve on the gunbarrel, a non-rotatable plug located in the forward end of the sleeve, and a longitudinally-movable pin-lever radially mounted in the forward end of the sleeve, and coacting with the said plug with which it engages to limit the rotary movement of the sleeve. 4

8. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and .magazine thereof,'ofa rotatable magazinesupporting sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine which is movable back and forth with respect to it, and which-is coupled for rotation with it, means for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve, and a longitudinally -movable pinlever radially mounted in the forward end of the said sleeve for rotating the same, and for locking the magazinein its retracted or take-down position. 7 i

9. In a tubular-magazine firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and magazine thereof, of a rotatable magazine supporting sleeve applied to the forward end of thema-gazine which is movable back and forthwith, respect to it,'and which is coupled for rotation with it, a lon"itudiually-movable lever-pin radially mounted in the forward end of the sleeve for rotating the same, and

tubular magazine thereof,of a rotatable maga zine-supporting sleeve applied to the forwardend of the magazine which is coupled for 10-- tation with it, and which is movable back and forth with respect to it, a clip connected with the gun-barrel for supporting the forward end A of the said sleeve, and a plug located in the forward end of the said sleeve and coupled with the elip,whieh prevents it-from rotating.

11'. In a tubular-magazino firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and tubular magazine thcreof,of a rotatable magazine-supporting sleeve applied to the forward end of the magazine which is coupled for retation with it, and which is movable back and forth with respect to it, a clip connected with the. gun-barrel for supporting the forward end of the said sleeve, and a plug located in the forward end of the said sleeve and coupled with the clip which prevents it from rotating, a, longitudinally-movable lever -'pin radially mounted in the forward end of the sleevefor rotating the same, and coacting with the said plug which limits its swinging movement and hence the rotar movement of 8 the sleeve and magazine.

'12. In a magazine-dreamn, the combination with the gun-frame, gun-barrel and tubular magazine thereof, of a sliding handle mounted upon the magazine which is rotatable within the h andle'for the detachment of its rear end from the gun-frame, and a projection on the magazine engaging with the said handle and locking the same, when the magazine is retracted and rotated for its detachment from the gun frame.

13. In a tubular-magazine iirearin, the combination withvthe gun-frame, gun-barrel and tubular magazine thereof, of a sliding handle mounted upon the magazine, a handle-sleeve located within the said handle and formed with a longitudinal clearance'slot, and a handie-stop on the magazine normally located in line with the said clearance-slotof the-sleeve with the "ear edge of which it engages and holds the sleeve and hence the handle in its forward or retracted position when the magazine is retracted and rotated for its detach meut from the gun-frame.-

li. Ina tubular-magazine take-down fire-- arm, the combination wth the gun-frame 'of, and means for securing the magazine at the limit of its forward movement with, re spect to the barrel and for securing the ban dle at the limit of its excursion when the said 125 barrel and magazine are detached from the, gun-frame. v In testimony whereof I have signed specification in the presence of two subsoribing witnesses.

- WILLIAM MASON,

Witnesses:

DANIEL II. VEADER, THOMAS C. J OHXSOX. 

